Ironing machine



Oct. 27, 1925- W. COLCLOUGH IRONING MACHINE Filed April 17. 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 r IN VENTOA" b y a I A T701? EYS w. COLCLOUGH IRONING MACHINE Filed April 1'7. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct- 27, 1925- w. COLCLOUGH IRONING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 17. i922 N VliN TOR A TTORNF S Oct. 27, 1925. 1,559,075

W. COLCLOUGH IRONING MACHINE Filed April 1'7, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet s I INVENTOR A TTORNE VS Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM COLCLOUGH, OF NORWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY" MACHINERY COMPANY, OF ,CINGINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

mourns MACHINE Application filed ApriI 17, 1922. Serial No. 553,8G8.

To all whom it may concern.

' Be it known that 1, WILLIAM CoLoLoUoH, a .citizen of *the United States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and 6 State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing Machines, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to ironing ma ironing machines used in ironingsmall flat articles on one side of which it may be desirable to produce a highly finished or polished surface, such as collars and cuffs and the like. i v

The objects of this invention are to provide a machine of this kind for ironing collars, cuffs, etc. -with means for removing from the work any moisture which is not removed-while the work is being ironed and at the same time to set the finish of st'arched work; more particularly, to provide means for passing the work through a heated chamber upon leaving the ironing rolls; and 25 furthermore, to embody such heating means as a part of the same machine structure.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims when consideredtogether with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine; Fig. 2 is. an elevation of my ma-. chine taken from the opposite side; Fig. 3

is a vertical long tudinal section taken on line 3-3 of Figs. and 7 Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the presser bar taken on line 4-4 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a section showing the eccentrics on line 5-5 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 66 of Figs, 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 7 is a vertical, transverse section taken on line 7-7 of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6; Fig. 8 is a. detailed view taken on line 88 of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 and shows the pressure device for the fourth padded roll; and Fig. 9 is a plan view with. parts broken away showing the drive means for the endless conveyor.

In a general way my improved machine comprises a series of heated or ironing rolls and padded presser rolls between which the work is passed for the ironing operation, and also a heating chamberinto which the work is introduced after being ironed and through which it is passed by means of an endless belt onto which the work is received chines andmore especially to that class of after being ironed. The heating chamber is heated by means of steam coils situated below the belt and the work is automatically delivered from the machine after passing through the heating chamber. The endless belt is operated by the same source of power as is used for operation of the ironing and presser'rolls so that the machine hasa continuous automatic operation.

It is to. be understood that suitable means are provided for mounting the gears, shafts,

and levers in the frame of the machine and for also bracing the walls of the frame.

Mounted in the frame, indicated in a general Way by reference numeral 1, are the first, second and third heated or ironing rolls 2, 3 and 4, respectivel which are arranged in substantially horizontal alignment asclearly indicated in the drawmgs. The fourth heated roll 5 is also mounted in the frame 1, but in a difl'erent horizontal plane from the other three heated rolls. Posi tioned above the first, second and third heated rolls are the first, second and third padded presser rolls 6, 7 and 8, whose bearings are slidably mounted in ways provided 9 extend along and above the sides of the machine structure and are adapted to be raised and lowered by manipulation of a mechanism to'be later described. Fig. 4 shows the detailed mechanism by which the presser rolls are suspended from thepressure bars. This mechanism comprises hanger rods 10 which are suspended at their upper ends from outwardly projecting .or overhanging flanges 11 on the pressure bars and whose lower ends are connected-to the bearings of the presser rolls as indicated at 12. The pressure bars, which are of a hollow structureas shown in Fig. t afford a housing for springs 13 the lower ends of which bear against the bearings of the presser rolls while the upper ends are provided with the abutment 14 which can be adjusted by means of screw 15 and lock nut 16- so as to vary the tension of springs 13 and to thereby-vary the degree of tension WlllllCh it is desired to place upon the presser re s.

The mechanism will now be described for the operation of the presser and heating rolls, the mechanism here shown bein sub- Serial No. 490,100 filed August 5, 1921,, The

erated from any suitable source of power and is thrown lnto and out of drive connection with pulley 18 by means of clutch 19.

The arm 20 carried by the clutch is provided with set screw 21 for engagement by cone member 22 which in turn is manipulated by yoke member 23 whose ends engage in the annular groove of member 22. The yoke member '23 is operated through link 24, bell crank lever 25, connecting rod 26, bell crank lever 27 and lever 28 which is provided with handle 29 pivotally mounted at 30 upon bracket 31. The shaft 17 has fixed thereon bevel gear meshing with companion bevel gear 33 which is fixed upon and drives shaft 34. The other end of shaft 34 has fixed thereon bevel gear 35 which drives bevel gear'36 fixedly mounted upon shaft 37. The shaft 37: has fixed thereon pinion 38 from which the several trains of gears are actuated for the operation of the presser and heated rolls.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the first heated roll 2 isoperated through pinions and gears 38, 39,40, 41 and 42, the last named gear being carried by the shaft of the first heat/ed roll. The second heated roll 3 is operated through the gears and pinions 38, 39, 40, 41 and 43, the last named gear being carried by the shaft of the see-. ond heated roll. The third heated roll 4 1s operated through the gears and pinions 38, 39, 40, 44 and 45, the last named gear being carried by the shaft of the third heated roll. The fourth heated roll 5 is operated through gears and pinions 38, 39, 40, 44, 46 and 47, the last named gear being mounted upon the shaft of the fourth heated roll,

The first presser roll 8 is operated through gears and pinions 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 49, 50 and 51, the last named gear being mounted upon the shaft of the first presser roll. The shaft of presser roll 8 carries also gear 52 which through gear 53. drives gear 54 mounted upon the shaft of the second presser roll. The tumbler gear 55 meshes with gear 54 and also with part of the compound gear which is mounted upon the shaft of the third presser roll. The third presser roll is driven through the train of gears 38, 39, 40, 44, 46, 47, 56 and 57 the last named gear meshing with compound gear 58 carried by the shaft of the third presser roll.

The compound gear 56, 57 is mounted upon arm 59 which is adapted to swing about the axis of the fourth heated roll 5 so as to maintain proper meshing engagement at all times between the gears. All of the gears and pinions are maintained at all times in proper meshin relation by means of the intermediate an tumbler gears and tumbler links.

The fourth presser roll is driven by the following mechanism. The worm gear 60, which is mounted upon and driven by shaft 17, meshes with gear 61 fixedly mounted upon shaft 62. The other end of shaft (52 carries bevel gear 63 which meshes with bevel gear 64 Which in turn is mounted upon the stub shaft of gear 65. The last named gear meshes with and drives gear 66 which is mounted upon the shaft of the fourth presser roll. The fourth presser roll is mounted upon the arms 67 which are adapted for swinging movement about the axis .ofthe gear so as to permit adjustment .of

the presser roll toward and away from the fourth heated roll positioned thereabove. As viewed in Fig; 3 the first three presser rolls and the fourth heated roll are rotated clockwise, while the first three heated rolls and the fourth presser roll are rotated counter-clockwise, so as to feed the work towards the left.

The means will now be described for adjusting the presser rolls towards and away from the heated rolls. The shaft 37 has fixedly mounted thereupon gear 68 which meshes with gear 69 which in turn is fixed upon shaft 70. Fixed upon shaft 7 (F is bevel gear 71 which meshes with bevel gear '72 fixed upon shaft 73. The shaft 73 has fixed thereupon worm gears 74 and 75 which mesh with gears 76 and 77 respectively, the last named gears beingfixed upon shafts 78 and 79. Carried near the ends of shafts 78 and 7 9am cams 80 and .81 at both ends thereof for actuation of the cam straps which in turn are connected at their upper ends to rods 82 and 83, respectively. These rods are in turn, connected through the clevises with the end portions of pressure bars 9 for adjustment 0 the same upon operation of the mechanism just now described.

Mounted upon shaft 79 just within cams 81 there are also provided cams 84 for actuation of cam straps 85 extending thereabout, these cam straps having operative connection with rods 86 which are connected at their upper ends to bracket 87. Upon manipulation. of vthe adjusting means for the pressure bars, the first three presser rolls will be raised away from their heated rolls while the fourth presser roll will be lowered away from its heated roll, due to themrangement of the cams upon shaft 79. The bracket 87 is provided with housing portion 88 which encloses spring 89 which in turn abuts at its one end the bearing 90 of the fourth presser roll while the other end of the spring has bearing engagement against the inner end of screw'91 which extends through the closed. end of the housing 88. By means of screw 91 and nut 92 the tension upon s ring 89 may be varied according to the degree of pressure desired for the presser roll in its engagement with the work. The hanger rod 93. is connected at its the lug 94 provided on housing 88. Thecollar 95 on the free end of rod 93 prevents separation of the parts upon lowering of the presser roll.

Splined or keyed upon shaft is clutch member 96which'is adapted for engagement with the companion clutch member 97 carried by bevel gear 71 which is freely mounted upon shaft 70. The clutch member 96 is actuated by means of lever 98.suitably pivoted at 99 to the frame so that upon throwing in clutch 96 the mechanism just now described for raising and lowering the pressure bars may be operated from the motor. The same adjustment of the pressure bars can also be had, when clutch 96 is disengaged, by manipulation of the wheel 100 which is mounted upon shaft 73. So that either manual or so positioned as to receive the work after itpower operation of this adjusting mechanism may be had.

The means for drying the work and at the same time settin the finish to the starched goods will now are-suitably secured to inwardly extending flanges 103 and 1040f the main frame and also end walls 105 and 106. The bottom of the heating chamber consists ofthe screen 107 and the angle bars 108 which aresup-.

' conveyor belt 116 extends throu h t e heating chamber about rolls 117 an 118 and is has passed the ironing and presser rolls and delivers the-same in dry condition through the opening at the left hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. 3. The roll 118 is driven by means of shaft 62 which has fixed thereon bevel gear- 119, this bevel gear meshing in turn with bevel gear 120 which in turn meshes with tumbler gear 121, the last named gear driving gear 122 fixed on the shaft of roll 118. By means of tumbler links 121 these gears are maintained in mesh for all adjusted positions of roll 118.

R ferring to Fig. 9 of the drawings, it \villzbe seen that hearing 123 of roll 118 is adapted for adjustable movement along tracks 124-on the frame so as to regulate the tension of apron 116. Adjustably mounted in lug 125 on the frame is screw rod 126 the one end of which is provided with bearing portion 127 providing abutment for one end of spring 128 while the other end of the spring abuts against a seat formed on bearing 123. By means of nuts 129 and 130 the tension on springs 128 can be set at vae described. The heating chamber comprises walls 101 and 102 which riable degrees. It will also be seen thatin caseqthe apron should tend to creep across, that islongitudinally of, rolls 1 17 and 11.8, correction. can be made by]. proper a djustment of the bearin s at the two ends of the. roll 118, that is, %y difierentvadjustments I at the two'ends so as to vary the anglefof roll 118 with respect to thepath of travel of the apron. v -.'The airupon entering theheating chamber through .the, perfora e bottom, willbe heated as its passes the coils and will ass upwardly to heat the conveyor belt. his air then-escapes past the two sides of the conveyor through the passages indicated at 131 and 132 and is eventually discharged throu h outlet 115. The work as it asses over t e fourth presser roll will be delivered onto the apron b means of dofier plate.133 suitably mounte on thewall of the heatin chamber; A guide plate 134 is also mount on the wallof the heatin chamber so as to provide together with ofii'err delivery chute 135 which wi guide the work onto the endless apron. Mounted upon the bearings of roll 118 are bracket arms 136 which-support dofi'er plate .137 for deliverlate 133 a ing the work from theapron. The doffer plates 138 are also provided between the rolls so as to strip the work from the one roll and direct it onto the next.

Thus I have provided a unitary machine structure with means for passing the work through heated and presser rolls and then delivering the same onto a conveyor belt which carries itthrough a heating chamber and delivers it from the other end of the machine. Y I

Notably among the advantages flowing from this particular machine structure is that residing in the fact that any moisture remaining in the work. after the ironing oporation will vbe removed by its passage through the heating chamber before being discharged from. the machine. Furthermore, in the case of s'tarched goods, the "finish will be set as'it asses throu h the chamber, the fimsh in such c as of eing more-effective while the WOI'k heatin goods is still in a moist condition.

Furthermore, -the collars and cuffs for instance, for which this improved machine is particularly adapted, are maintained in flat condition throughout the entire iron- ,ing and drying operations, and the condi-' tion of such starched work isthereby greatly improved. The drying operation is also greatly facilitated by direct exposure of the work to the discharge outlet.

'Having described my invention, I claim: 1. ,An ironing machine structure, com prisin a drying chamber, ironing rolls outside 0 said chamber, means for conveyin' the work after it has been ironed by sai rolls through the drying chamber for the drying operation, heating means within said chamber below said conveying means, and air discharge means having connection with said chamber from above said conveying 'means for discharging the moisture laden air therefrom.

2. An ironing machine structure, comprising a drying chamber, ironing rollsoutside of said chamber, means for conveying the work after it has been ironed by said rolls through the drying chamber for the dryingoperation, heating means Within said chamber below said conveying means, and an discharge means having connection With said chamber from above said conveying 15 means and through substantially the entire extent thereof for discharging the moisture laden air-therefrom.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

WILLIA'M GOLCLOUGH. 

